Tag Archives: Kickstarter

From carrying cases to toys and gadgets, cool new iPhone 5 accessories are cropping up all the time. But a new Kickstarter project offers up something totally unique, with a GPS system that'll protect your ride. And for cyclists, there can be no doubt that the BikeSpike will be this summer's absolute most important iPhone 5 accessory.

The new gadget works primarily as a GPS tracker, thanks to a native app that works for iOS as well as Android.

Just attach the BikeSpike to your bike and you'll be able to digitally "lock" your bicycle in a geo-fenced location. If it moves, or if someone even tries tampering with it, you'll get a notification on your phone.

And if a thief does manage to get their hands on it, you'll be able to track its location on map, even granting temporary access to law enforcement so they can recover it more quickly.

So far, it's among the best accessories for iPhone 5 or Android designed specifically for cyclists. And it may just become as important to standard bike security as your typical bike lock. And parents will love the safety of being able to monitor their kids when they ride outside of a designated "safe zone."

But there's a lot more to love about this awesome accessory than anti-theft protection and kid safety.

That's because the BikeSpike also works as a performance monitoring tool, logging your distance, speed and calories burned and even keeping track of inclines and routes taken. You can then share your stats to friends by phone.

Plus, if you happen to get in an accident, BikeSpike's collision detection system "can alert key members of your contact list and share the location of an accident."

At PureMobile, we're always on the lookout for the coolest new iPhone 5 accessories. And for anyone who enjoys biking during the summer, the BikeSpike is probably the single most worthwhile iPhone 5 accessory that ever rode on two wheels. Check out the BikeSpike team on Kickstarter or take a look at the video below. (It's pretty funny, actually.)

Dubbed by Mashable as a sort of Swiss Army Knife for smartphones, a new, multi-use iPhone 5 accessory proves that expanding on your phone's functionality goes way beyond apps. Sometimes you need a physical tool, and the new Kickstarter campaign for the XiStera iPhone 5 accessory promises just that.

This nifty, multi-purpose tool works in tons of ways to let you get more out of your iPhone and to make your daily life just a bit easier. As far as iPhone 5 accessories go, the XiStera's got most of what you could desire.

About the size of a wine bottle opener, it works as a multi-position stand for your iPhone, a lens adapter, a wrap for your headphone cord, a tripod mount, and doubles as a stylus and optional LED lighting system. Oh, and it's also a bottle opener and keychain too.

When it's idle, this iPhone 5 accessory neatly attaches to the upper corner of your iPhone, with only about a quarter of the bulk of a regular iPhone 5 case. And it looks like it's going to be pretty affordable too.

Meanwhile, XIStera seems to be eyeing the countless possibilities for optional add-on accessories. And they're already at work on compatible iPhone car mounts and bike mounts, as well as a range of lenses and stylus covers in different colors.

One of the coolest iPhone 5 accessories to come out in so many months, it's no surprse that the XiStera has already reached its initial Kickstarter goal of $19,000 in just three days. They're now pushing toward their second fundraising target of $100,000, and something tells us they'll get there.

Sometimes you can find earth-shattering new technology on Kickstarter, gadgets so revolutionary, they change the way we think about tech. Other times, it's just a case a of a good, simple idea that fills a need. Definitely not a work of genius, the FlipGrip, a new multi-function iPhone carrying case falls into the latter category.

That's not to say that this iPhone accessory isn't a worthwhile Kickstarter project. Sure, there are already plenty of iPhone cases and skins out there. But the FlipGrip does have a simple yet practical twist that'll let you keep a handle on your phone – literally.

Its design centers around a unique, multi-function handle that acts as both a grip and multi-position stand. Why should you need a handle for your phone, you might ask? Well, you may have already found yourself in the same position that led the FlipGrip's creator to make the case in the first place:

"FlipGrip was born out of the necessity to get a better "GRIP" on my smartphone. One day while lying in bed reading the news, the idea hit me!"

And so the FlipGrip was created, a protective plastic iPhone carrying case with a handle that doubles as a stand but which can snap shut to rest flush with the case when it's not in use.

See what we mean about simple and practical ideas being worth their while? And though the current FlipGrip prototype is a model for iPhone 4/4S, models for other iOS devices, like iPhone 5 and iPad carrying cases, are on their way.

On top of that, FlipGrip says theu'll be applying the same concept to cases for "other popular devices from Samsung, Google, Amazon and Microsoft in early 2013."

Sure, the FlipGrip is hardly revolutionary in terms of iPhone accessories. But sometimes it's less important whether you're doing something someone else has done before, as long as you're doing it better.

Whether you're the next great director or just an avid home videographer, a new iPad accessory will make your movie making a lot easier without the need for pro equipment. With a recently launched Kickstarter campaign, iOgrapher is a combination iPad carrying case and mount that turns your iPad mini into a sort of pro video camera.

Branded as the "first all purpose film making case for the iPad Mini," the iOgrapher is a tough, high-grade plastic case for iPad mini equipped with side handles for smooth video recording.

Like most good inventions, this ingenious iPad accessory was designed as a rel-world solution to an everyday problem faced by the inventor. As a high school media-arts teacher, iOgrapher creator Dave Basulto found there was room for improvement in the shaky videos his students shot on iPad.

The problem wasn't really about the device itself. As Mashable notes, with its 1080p video recording quality th iPad mini is a pretty good video tool and could "serve students well as a shooting, editing and even a distribution device."

But getting a stable hand is tricky with the iPad mini, so Basulto went to work on a mount-style case that could capitalize on the iPad's video capabilities.

The iOgrapher is designed so that you can mount it on a tripod, monopod, or portable dolly for even more professional looking video. It can be fitted with different, separately sold lenses, like fisheye, wide angle, macro, and close-up.

And, if you want cinematic sound quality, this iPad carrying case with handles also sports three accessories "shoes" at the top for attaching lightning audio gear.

The concept is so well thought out and has such useful application that Basulto's already started working on prototypes for other Apple devices as well. He's also got video-centric accessories for iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and iPad 2 in the works.

But, with the iPad mini's easy portability and ideal preview-sized screen, we're hedging our bets that the original model of this nifty new iPad carrying case will be most would-be directors' top choice.

Oh, no! You're out for the day but forgot your iPhone charging cable at home. The only way anything in your wallet is going to help you now is if you head to the nearest electronics store and pick up an extra Apple phone charger, right?

Not necessarily, if you've got a ChargeCard. Gizmodo and Mashable reported this week on a new product which originally popped up on Kickstarter but has since found enough funding to start shipping some models.

The credit card-shaped Apple accessory works like a USB data cable for iPhone 4 or iPhone 5. But, at the thickness of about three regular credit cards, it conveniently fits in your wallet, so you're likely to have it on you at all times.

For the time being, the makers of the ChargeCard are only starting to ship microUSB and iPhone 4 dock connector models. but they've also got a lightning version for iPhone 5 in the works, as well as models for BlackBerry and Android phones.

We're not saying that the ChargeCard will totally replace your other iPhone chargers. Obviously, it serves quite a different purpose than, say, an iPhone desktop charger. And, unlike your traditional Apple cable charger, which you can use at any outlet, the ChargeCard needs a USB port to work.

But it's still a clever accessory and, at its cheap $25 price tag, it's an iPhone accessory that's totally worth it, even as just a backup way of extending battery life.

Just like most people, Smarterflo product designer Dotan Saguy loves the iPhone. But as any good mobile accessories designer should, he's always looking for ways to make life easier. Enter the Smarter Stand for iPhone. Simple and ingenious, this new iPhone accessory from Starterflo is one of best ideas we've seen lately, solving two of the little issues we've all had with the iPhone for some time.

In a video for Kickstarter, where Smarterflo is trying to raise $15,000 to get the Smarter Stand made, Saguy explains how he first thought up his new design:

"There's two things that have been bugging me for years about the iPhone. The first one is, to try to prop it up against something is nearly impossible. The second thing is, when I try to bring my earbuds out of my pocket, to try to tangle them out is just a nightmare."

But Saguy realized that using the iPhone's headphone plug could allow him to make an easily portable kickstand that didn't require a case for the device and didn't add any bulk. The result is a new, minialistic iPhone stand that plugs into the headphone jack while also allowing you to use your headphones and while keeping them tangle free.

To call the Smarter Stand a desktop stand is a little hyperbolic, since the accessory is so small you can slip it in your pocket and take it from place to place with you, another clever feature of this accessory. And, aside from acting as a spool for tangle-free earbuds, it works with or without a case and is compatible with both iPhone and iPod Touch.

This isn't the first stroke of genius to come out of Smarterflo. The company launched their Smarter Stand for iPad only this past June on Kickstarter, to amazing response and great success. And we at Pure Mobile have a feeling they're in for even greater things with their amazingly simple and exceedingly clever new iPhone accessory.

Okay, so we all want to keep our fragile and costly devices protected. But have we gone a little too far in making crazy brick-like carrying cases to keep them safe? mentalKase, a new line of protective iPhone cases on Kickstarter, has led us to conclude yes and no.

At first glance, we completely pshawed the mentalKase. Branded as a sort of ultimate outdoorsman's carrying case, It looks like a really big silicone skin with a handle, wrapped around a slightly smaller silicone skin. Combined, the two layers practically double the size of your iPhone – talk about bulky!

But the case (which is compatible with iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S with an iPhone 5 model in the works) isn't actually silicone. Its inner layer is made of TPU, while the large outer layer is made of micro-cell rubberized foam (MCRF), which mentalKase says "protects sensitive electronics from shock and impact" like nothing else.

And while their video shows someone dropping their iPhone, clad in a mentalKase, from a two-story rooftop, and another person chucking theirs into the air like a juggler, one wonders if any normal person would ever need protection for such activities? Nonetheless, the the iPhones survive, so at least we know the mentalKase does what it's supposed to.

Another little drawback to the mental case is that, while the outer layer allows access to the headphone jack, no mention is made of any of the other iPhone ports, so we're not really sure how you're supposed to charge with it on. Nevermind that it's not particularly attractive, though you can remove the outside and use just the inner layer.

It's also behind some other heavy-duty iPhone accessories, like the Lifeproof, and OtterBox's upcoming Armor case, in that it's not waterproof. But it will float to the surface, for whatever good that does you.

The outer layer of the mentalKase converts to a desktop iPhone stand

There are some nice features to the mentalKase, however. You can use it with your phone's screen out or flipped in, for extra protection. And the outer layer can be removed and converted into an iPhone desktop stand.

Also, the MCRF material used for the outer is anti-microbial. But, just as we feel it's a bit of an exaggeration to try and protect your phone lest it fall off a roof, we also think it's a little phobic to need a sterile case. Really, has your phone case ever given you a cold?

Over all, the mentalKase looks like a pretty decent product, and seems to deliver on what it promises. So, in that sense, it's not really going overboard if you happen to need a massive, germ-resistant iPhone case that can survive a game of "toss that phone" and can float like a fishing bobber.

But if you're looking for everyday use, we'd probably recommend a more streamlined case with a slightly lower level of shock absorption, something that'll actually fit in your pocket.

Still, it just goes to show that, for every person and every lifestyle, there's an iPhone accessory out that's just right.

Love gaming and love your iPad, but don't love gaming on your iPad? A new concept in iPad accessories, launched just this week on Kickstarter, is looking to bring your two great loves together, with a carrying case designed specifically for gaming and gamers.

Engadget reported yesterday on the latest idea from Audojo, a case that supplies what most gamers find lacking when playing on their tablet – physical controls.

The case, which is compatible with iPad 2 or higher, closes around the ends of your iPad, giving you two analog joysticks, shoulder buttons, and stereo speakers.Meanwhile, the rest of your tablet is left free, so you can use your camera or any of your tablet's buttons without hassle.

There are, of course, other gaming controllers for iPad out there. But how Audojo's differs, says Engadget, is that rather than connecting via Bluetooth, it uses a low-latency microphone-based interface.

hile the case does have a mini-USB connector for charging, it doesn't actually act as a charger for your iPad, which would be cool but would also make the gadget a lot more expensive, so Audojo's decided to keep it simple, for a cheaper, more accessible design.

This isn't a perfect accessory – yet. Engadget took issue with its prototype, which it said "looks a little clunky since it adds quite a bit of bulk to the iPad's figure," though they also noted that, when you're actually using it, "it's light and well balanced and feels comfortable in hand."

They also found that the pods for the shoulder buttons, electronics and batteries, housed at the back of the case, are "are currently too wide but Audojo plans to remedy this before production thanks to an improved circuit board layout."

Audojo's gaming case is far from hitting any store shelves. But if its Kickstarter campaign works out as planned, we should eventually see a slimmer, more refined version of this already pretty cool prototype. And though we're not counting our chickens before they hatch, we have a hunch it could be one of the best iPad accessories yet made for the gaming crowd.